Hard Rock New Orleans unveils new look

Restaurant reopens on Bourbon Street

Hard Rock Cafe New Orleans began the new year in a new location with a new elaborate collection of memorabilia.

The restaurant closed at its previous location on North Peters Street and opened in a new spot at the corner of Bourbon and Iberville streets the very next day, featuring a new design, a stage for live performances and more than 100 pieces of memorabilia from local artists, modern superstars and legendary musicians.

Jeff Nolan, a Hard Rock International music and memorabilia historian, said his team was overwhelmed with the task of putting a collection together for New Orleans because of the city's rich musical legacy.

"(The team) outdid themselves with the memorabilia selections for this cafe. We've put in over 100 amazing pieces," said Nolan.

One section spotlights elaborate costumes worn by the likes of Aallen Toussaint, Big Chief Jolly of the Wild Tchopitoulas and Little Richard, whose outfit still has the original sweat and make-up stains.

"Oh yeah, (he has) thick pancake makeup. (He's) an amazing performer, and the outfit really shows how much he puts into his art," Nolan said.

Another piece in the collection, which has a little less flare, is an outfit worn by Louisiana native Britney Spears during her 1999 tour.

"It's so much less elaborate than what she began to wear when she became a superstar. It's really sort of homemade," Nolan said.

The Voodoo room features a collection by artists who've all performed Voodoo Fest.